Disk reproducing apparatus for storing a plurality of cartridges

ABSTRACT

A MD loading mechanism for a multidisk MD reproducing apparatus capable of storing a plurality of MDs and of reproducing information recorded on the plurality of MDs successively comprises: a plurality of cartridge holders for holding MD cartridges therein, respectively; a MD cartridge storage unit for storing the plurality of cartridge holders therein in a stack so that the back end surfaces of the MD cartridges held within the cartridge holders can be seen from outside, provided with a plurality of insertion slots through which the MD cartridges are inserted in the cartridge holders and cartridge holder locking means for locking the cartridge holders within the MD cartridge storage unit; and a cartridge holder transfer means for transferring the cartridge holder holding a desired MD cartridge from the MD cartridge storage unit to the MD reproducing apparatus. The contents of the MD cartridges stored in the MD cartridge storage unit can be known and the MD cartridges can be taken out or changed while the MD reproducing apparatus is in operation.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/321,607filed on Oct. 12, 1994, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a disk reproducing apparatus and, morespecifically, to a minidisk loading mechanism for a multiple diskreproducing apparatus capable of storing a plurality of minidisks, i.e.,the so-called MDs, for continuous reproducing operation.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A disk reproducing apparatus, similarly to a disk recording apparatus,is provided with a multidisk loading mechanism capable of storing aplurality disks, of automatically taking out the disks in apredetermined order, loading the disk into a reproducing unit, andreturning the disk from the reproducing unit to its storage positionafter the information recorded on the disk has been reproduced.

Since a multidisk loading mechanism designed specially for a minidiskreproducing apparatus has not generally been known, a CD apparatus,which is similar to a minidisk reproducing apparatus, will be described.

FIG. 38 shows a disk loading mechanism analogous with a known multidiskloading mechanism disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open (Kokai)No. 4-20674. Shown in FIG. 38 are a frame 1, a pivotal shaft 2, a CDreproducing apparatus 3, a plurality of CD holders 4, a pivotal pin 5, arecess 6 formed in each CD holder 4.

The operation of the multidisk loading mechanism shown in FIG. 38 willbe described with reference to FIGS. 39 and 40. Each CD holder 4 havingthe shape of a case holds a CD (compact disk) 7 therein. The pluralityof CD holders 4 are supported for turning relative to the frame 1 on thepivotal pin 5. The frame 1 is able to turn on the pivotal shaft 2. Theframe 1 is turned on the pivotal shaft 2 in the direction of the arrow(FIG. 39) to take out the frame 1 holding the CD holders 4 from the CDreproducing apparatus 3. In this state, the CDs 7 can be taken out fromand put into the CD holders 4.

When playing the CDs 7, the frame 1 is turned to a loading position 26(FIG. 40) outside the CD reproducing apparatus 3 as shown in FIG. 39,the CDs 7 are inserted in the CD holders 4, respectively, and then theframe 1 is turned to a standby position 27 (FIG. 40) inside the CDreproducing apparatus 3 as shown in FIG. 38. Then, a piece of music isspecified by operating a selector key, not shown, to make a controlcircuit, not shown, select the specified piece of music. Then, the CDholder 4 holding the CD 7 storing the specified piece of music is turnedon the pivotal pin 5 to a reproducing position 28 (FIG. 40). During theoperation of the CD reproducing apparatus 3, all the CDs 7 are held atthe standby position 27 inside the CD reproducing apparatus 3 andcovered with the frame 1 to protect the CDs 7 from dust. In this state,however, the CDs 7 are hidden from view.

Referring to FIG. 40, a signal converting head (hereinafter referred toas "sensor") for reading information from and writing information on theCDs 7 moves along an alternate long and short dash line. When the CDreproducing apparatus 3 is installed with a plane in which the CD holder4 is moved in a vertical position, the sensor moves vertically. When theCD reproducing apparatus 3 is installed with the plane in which the CDholder 4 is moved in a horizontal position, the sensor moveshorizontally. However, since the sensor is comparatively heavy, facilityin moving the sensor affecting reproducing performance is greatlydependent on the position in which the CD reproducing apparatus 3 isinstalled. A minidisk reproducing apparatus is similar in constructionas the CD reproducing apparatus 3, except that the minidisk reproducingapparatus is constructed so as to use minidisks contained in cartridges.

The construction of a minidisk cartridge will be described to facilitateunderstanding the present invention. FIG. 41 is a perspective view ofthe front side of a minidisk cartridge disclosed in Japanese PatentLaid-open (Kokai) No. 4-278269, and FIG. 42 is a perspective view of theback side of the same minidisk cartridge. Referring to FIGS. 41 and 42,a minidisk cartridge (hereinafter referred to simply as "cartridge") 25has a flat case 13 containing a disk 16, a shutter 14 put on the case 13for sliding movement in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 41) to open anopening through which access to the disk 16 can be gained, and a key 15provided on the case 13 to lock the shutter 14 at the closed position.When one end of the key 15 disposed within a groove 17 formed in a sidewall of the case 13 is depressed, the key 15 releases the shutter 14 toenable the shutter 14 to be moved in the direction of the arrow.

An opening 18 is formed in the central area of the back wall of the case13 and a center plate 19 fastened to the disk 16 is exposed in theopening 18. A plurality of holes 20 and recesses 22 for positioning thecase 13 and transferring the cartridge 25 are formed in the back wall ofthe case 13. A mark 21 indicating the direction of insertion of thecartridge 25 is formed near one side of the case 13 on the back surfaceof the case 13. Corners at the opposite ends of the side near the mark21 are rounded. The cartridge 25 is inserted in a reproducing apparatus,not shown, in the direction indicated by the mark 21.

Referring to FIG. 43 showing the back end surface 24 of the case 13 ofthe cartridge 25, a label having the description of the contents, suchas titles of pieces of music, name of data, title or the like, of thedisk 16 contained in the case 13 is attached to the outer surface of theback end surface 24 of the case 13. Since other side walls are used forfunctional purposes, the label 13 is not allowed to be attached to theside walls other than the back end surface 24.

Referring to FIGS. 44, 45 and 46 showing a disk loading unit included ina CD reproducing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model 62-63853,there are shown a disk 7, a magnetic turntable 62 on which the disk 7 issupported and held in place magnetically, a floating deck 60 supportingthe turntable 62 for rotation, a base plate 59, damping supports 64supporting the floating deck 60 in a floating state on the base plate59, locking pins 65 projecting from the opposite sides of the front andback ends of the floating deck 60, and locking plates 67 that engage thelocking pins 65 to fix the floating deck 60 relative to the base plate59 when mounting the disk 7 on the magnetic turntable 62. A diskmounting mechanism, not shown, for mounting the disk 7 on the magneticturntable 62 is disposed over the floating deck 60 lowers the disk 7from a position at a height A toward the magnetic turntable 62 so thatthe disk mounting mechanism and the magnetic turntable 62 supported onthe base plate 59 will not interfere with each other when the diskmounting mechanism locates the disk 7 above the magnetic turntable 62.

Since the position of an optical pickup head, not shown, must preciselybe controlled when reading information from the disk 7 with the opticalpickup head, the floating deck 60 holding the optical pickup head and adisk driving motor, not shown, is supported in a floating state on thebase plate 59 by the damping supports 64 to avoid the adverse influenceof disturbing external vibrations on the reading operation of theoptical pickup head. Therefore, when mounting the disk 7 on the magneticturntable 62, the locking plates 67 are brought into engagement with thelocking pins 65 to lock the floating deck 60 holding the magneticturntable 62 in place because the disk 7 cannot correctly be mounted onthe magnetic turntable 62 if the turntable is unstable, and then thedisk 7 is lowered toward and mounted on the magnetic turntable 62. Thedisk mounting mechanism lowers the disk 7 from a position at the heightA higher than a height B at which the disk 7 is seated on the magneticturntable 62 by a height difference C necessary for preventing theinterference between the disk 7 and the magnetic turntable 62.

The disk loading mechanism thus constructed of the conventionalmultidisk reproducing apparatus has the following problems.

1) It is impossible to find visually which CD holders are empty andwhich CD holders are loaded with CDs while the multidisk reproducingapparatus is in operation.

2) The contents of the CDs stored in the CD holders at the standbyposition cannot be read.

3) The CDs stored in the CD holders cannot be taken out or changed whilethe multidisk reproducing apparatus is in operation.

4) The frame 1 must have a strong construction because the frame 1 movesall the CDs together and hence the disk loading mechanism iscomparatively heavy.

5) Since the CD holders are supported by the pivotal pin 5 on the frame1 in a cantilever fashion, the pivotal pin 5 must be comparatively longto support the CD holders so that the CD holders will not decline and,consequently, the thickness of the stack of the CD holders is large ascompared with the thickness of the plurality of CDs.

6) Since the sensor for reading information from the CD of the multidiskreproducing apparatus moves straight relative to the front side of themultidisk reproducing apparatus, the direction of the gravitationalacceleration acting on the sensor changes when the position of themultidisk reproducing apparatus is changed and hence the multidiskreproducing apparatus must be installed in a specified position.

7) Since the locking plates 67 engage the locking pins 65 with thefloating deck 60 supported at its original position by the dampingsupports 64, the disk must be inserted into the disk loading mechanismat a position above the magnetic turntable 62 and lowered toward themagnetic turntable 62, which inevitably increases the size of the CDreproducing apparatus.

8) Since the floating deck moves vertically within the range of strokeof the damping supports 64, additional spaces must be secured above andunder the cartridge, which increases the size of the CD reproducingapparatus.

9) Since the thickness of the CD reproducing apparatus is dependent onthe range of vertical movement of the elevator, the size of the CDreproducing apparatus is increased if the thickness of the elevatordriving unit is added to the range of vertical movement of the elevator.

10) Although the stopping position of the elevator must accuratelycorrespond to the height of the cartridge, the stopping position oftendeviates from the correct position due to the inertia of the drivingmechanism or external vibrations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Minidisk cartridge loading mechanisms (MD cartridge loading mechanism)in a first to a seventh aspect of the present invention are intended tosolve the problems 1) to 5), and it is therefore an object of the sameto provide MD cartridge loading mechanisms that enable the observaionand identification of MDs stored therein other than a MD loaded on theMD reproducing apparatus, enable the stored MDs to be taken out andchanged, have a compact, lightweight construction, and enable the MDreproducing apparatus to be constructed in a comparatively smallthickness.

The MD cartridge loading mechanism in the seventh aspect of the presentinvention are intended to solve the problem 6), and it is therefore anobject of the seventh aspect of the present invention to provide a MDcartridge loading mechanism that does not place any restrictions on theposition of the MD reproducing apparatus.

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in an eighth aspect of the presentinvention is intended to solve the problem 5).

MD cartridge loading mechanisms in a ninth to an eleventh aspect of thepresent invention have been formed by incorporating improvements intothe MD cartridge loading mechanisms in the first to the seventh aspectof the present invention.

A cartridge transfer mechanism in a twelfth aspect of the presentinvention for a MD cartridge loading mechanism is intended to solve theproblem 7), and it is therefore an object of the twelfth aspect of thepresent invention to provide a cartridge transfer mechanism for a MDcartridge loading mechanism, capable of transferring a MD in a plane ona level (height) equal to a level (height) on which the MD is disposedfor reproducing operation without entailing interference between the MDand the turntable, and of enabling the MD reproducing apparatus to beformed in a construction having a comparatively small thickness.

A cartridge transfer mechanism in a thirteenth and a seventeenth aspectof the present invention is intended to solve the problem 8), and it istherefore an object of the thirteenth and the seventeenth aspect of thepresent invention to provide a cartridge transfer mechanism for a smallMD cartridge loading mechanism that does not require any spaces aboveand under the level on which and MD is inserted into the MD reproducingapparatus.

Fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth aspects of the present invention areintended to solve the problem 9), and it is therefore an object of thefourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth aspect of the present invention toenable the determination of the height of the MD reproducing apparatuswithout being affected by the elevator driving mechanism.

An eighteenth aspect of the present invention is intended to solve theproblem 10).

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in the first aspect of the presentinvention is provided with a plurality of cartridge insertion slotsrespectively for a plurality of cartridges, cartridge holders forholding the cartridges inserted therein so that the back end surfaces ofthe cartridges can be seen through the slots, a cartridge holder storageunit, and a cartridge holder transfer means for transferring a cartridgeholder holding a cartridge containng a MD from which information is tobe reproduced from the cartridge holder storage unit to a reproducingposition.

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in the second aspect of the presentinvention is provided with a linear cartridge holder transfer meansinstead of the cartridge holder transfer means of the MD cartridgeloading mechanism in the first aspect of the present invention.

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in the fourth aspect of the presentinvention is provided with an orthogonal cartridge holder transfer meansinstead of the cartridge holder transfer means of the MD cartridgeloading mechanism in the first aspect of the present invention.

MD cartridge loading mechanisms in the third and the fifth aspect of thepresent invention are provided each with a double-insertion inhibitingplate at each cartridge insertion slot in addition to the means includedin the MD cartridge loading mechanisms in the second aspect and thefourth aspect of the present invention.

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in the sixth aspect of the presentinvention is provided with cartridge holders each provided with a pivotin one corner thereof and a holding pin in another corner thereofinstead of the cartridge holders of the MD cartridge loading mechanismin the first aspect of the present invention, and a circular cartridgeholder transfer means for supporting each cartridge holder for turningat the holding pin thereof.

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in the seventh aspect of the presentinvention is provided, instead of the circular cartridge holder transfermeans of the MD cartridge loading mechanism in the sixth aspect of thepresent invention, with an oblique circular cartridge holdertransfermeans, and the sensor for reproducing information recorded on aMD moves in an angular position inclined at an angle of 45°, 135°, 225°or 315° relative to the front surface of the MD reproducing apparatus.

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in the eighth aspect of the presentinvention is provided with cartridge holders each having the shape of aU-shaped frame having neither a top wall or a bottom wall.

MD cartridge loading mechanisms in the ninth to the eleventh aspect ofthe present invention are provided, in addition to the means included inthe MD cartridge loading mechanisms in the first to the seventh aspectof the present invention, with a guide panel provided with a recess.

A cartridge transfer means in the twelfth aspect of the presentinvention is provided with a floating deck locking means for moving thefloating deck away from a cartridge being transferred and for lockingthe floating deck when transferring the cartridge holder from a standbyposition to the floating deck by a cartridge holder transfer means.

A cartridge transfer means in the thirteenth aspect of the presentinvention is provided with a vertical elevator driving means forshifting the reference pin of the floating deck to a level correspondingto the height of a transferred cartridge holder, and an elevatorretracting means for retracting the elevator from a position at whichthe cartridge is supported on the elevator to a position near the innercartridge after the elevator has been stopped at a height correspondingto an endmost cartridge holder by the vertical elevator driving meansand the cartridge has been transferred to the floating deck.

A cartridge transfer means in the fourteenth aspect of the presentinvention is provided, in the means included in the thirteenth aspect ofthe present invention, with a step plate for driving the elevator forvertical movement, and a step plate driving system disposed outside theextension of a path along which the elevator is moved vertically.

In the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, damping members orlow-friction members are attached to the opposite surfaces of the stepplate and the frame.

In the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the step plate isprovided with a plurality of recesses, the frame is provided with afixed projection or a plate spring, and the fixed projection or theplate spring engages the recesses when the elevator is stopped at aplurality of positions, respectively.

In the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the step plate ofthe elevator retracting means in the thirteenth aspect of the presentinvention is provided with inclined cam slots each provided with steppedportions each having a triangular cam surface.

In the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the plate cam of thestep plate is provided with a protrusion.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the present invention hasthe following advantages.

Since the cartridge holders of each of the MD cartridge loadingmechanisms in the first to the seventeenth aspect of the presentinvention do not cover the back end surfaces of the cartridges so thattitles of the contents of the cartridges marked on the back end surfacesof the cartridges are exposed, and the cartridge holder storage unitholds the cartridge holders at the standby position, the rear endsurfaces of the cartridges held in the cartridge holders can be seenfrom outside through the cartridge insertion slots.

Since the cartridge holder transfer means, the linear cartridge holdertransfer means, the circular cartridge holder transfer means or theoblique circular cartridge holder transfer means transfers only one ofthe cartridge holders holding the cartridge holders containing MDs fromthe standby position to the reproducing position, the rest of thecartridges held at the standby position can be taken out or changedwhile the MD reproducing apparatus is in operation.

Since each of the cartridge holders in the sixth and the seventh aspectof the present invention is supported at opposite sides thereof duringtransfer and is not supported in a cantilever fashion during turning,the mechanism for supporting the cartridge holder may be of a smallconstruction.

Since the MD cartridge loading mechanism in the seventh aspect of thepresent invention disposes the cartridge in a position that makes thesensor move at an angle of 45° to the front surface of the MDreproducing apparatus, the MD reproducing apparatus may be installed ineither a longitudinal position or a transverse position.

Since each of the cartridge holders in the eighth aspect of the presentinvention does not have any member corresponding to a top plate or abottom plate, the MD reproducing apparatus can be formed in aconstruction having a very small thickness.

Each of the guide plates in the ninth to the eleventh aspect of thepresent invention facilitates the insertion of the cartridge therein.

Since the floating deck locking means in the twelfth aspect of thepresent invention moves the floating deck from the position where thefloating deck is supported by the damping supports in a direction awayfrom the turntable and locks the floating deck, the cartridge insertionposition need not be raised when transferring the cartridge onto theturntable and hence the size of the MD reproducing apparatus can bereduced accordingly.

Since the elevator retracting means of the cartridge transfer mechanismin the thirteenth aspect of the present invention is provided with theelevator that moves downward after being loaded with the top cartridgeamong the stacked cartridges, the cartridge transfer mechanism can beformed in a small construction.

Since the step plate driving mechanism in the fourteenth aspect of thepresent invention is disposed outside the extension of the path of thevertical movement of the elevator driven by the step plate, the heightof the MD reproducing apparatus is dependent only on the renge ofvertical movement of the elevator, is not dependent on the height of theelevator driving system and hence the MD reproducing apparatus can beformed in a comparatively small construction.

Since the step plate and the frame in the fifteenth aspect of thepresent invention are provided with the damping members or thelow-friction members on the surfaces thereof facing each other, the stepplate and the elevator will not play, comparatively small dampingsupports may be employed for supporting the floating deck and hence theMD reproducing apparatus can be formed in a comparatively smallconstruction.

Since the step plate in the sixteenth aspect of the present inventioncan be stopped exactly at the predetermined position by the engagementof the projection formed on the frame or the plate spring attached tothe frame, and the recess formed in the step plate, the gradient of thecam of the step plate may be comparatively large, the step plate may becomparatively small and hence the MD reproducing apparatus can be formedin a comparatively small construction.

Since the elevator retracting means of the cartridge transfer mechanismin the seventeenth aspect of the present invention is capable of afunction, in addition to that of the same in the thirteenth aspect ofthe present invention, to retract the elevator by the cam having anappropriate shape for retracting the elevator without requiring anyspecial mechanism for retracting the elevator, the MD reproducingapparatus can be formed in a comparatively small construction.

The protrusion of the cam of the eighteenth aspect of the presentinvention prevents the dislocation of the step plate from its correctstopping position and hence the step plate can be stopped at itsstopping position in a high accuracy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a MD cartridge loadingmechanism in a first embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge holder included in the MDcartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cartridge holder of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a MD cartridge loadingmechanism in a second embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a MD cartridge loading mechanism in athird embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cartridge holder included in the MD loading mechanism ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a panel included in the MD cartridgeloading mechanism of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a MD cartridge loading mechanism in afifth embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cartridge holder included in the MDcartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the MD cartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a MD cartridge loading mechanism in asixth embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of assistance in explaining amanner of installing the MD cartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 11 in alongitudinal position on a MD reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 13 is fragmentary perspective view of assistance in explaining amanner of installing the MD cartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 11 in atransverse position on a MD reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one of cartridge holders included in aMD cartridge loading mechanism in a seventh embodiment according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cartridge holders of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a MD cartridge loading mechanism in aneighth embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a guide panel applicable to the MDcartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another guide panel applicable to theMD cartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a third guide panel applicable to theMD cartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a schematic side view of a cartridge holder transfer deviceincluded in a MD cartridge loading mechanism in a ninth embodimentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic side view of the cartridge holder transfer deviceof FIG. 20 in a state where a cartridge is disposed opposite to aturntable;

FIGS. 22(a) and 22(b) are fragmentary front views of the cartridgeholder transfer device of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a side view of a floating deck and a cartridge disposed at areproducing position relative to the floating deck;

FIG. 24 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view of a cartridgeholder transfer device;

FIG. 26 is a sectional front view of the cartridge holder transferdevice of FIG. 25;

FIGS. 27(a), 27(b), 27(c) and 27(d) are schematic views of assistance inexplaining the operation of the cartridge holder transfer device of FIG.25;

FIG. 28 is a top view of a step plate;

FIG. 29 is a front view of the step plate of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a side view of the step plate of FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a side view of the step plate of FIG. 28 as incorporated intothe cartridge holder transfer device of FIG. 25;

FIG. 32 is a sectional view of a case;

FIGS. 33(a), 33(b), 33(c) and 33(d) are diagrammatic views of assistancein explaining an elevator driving system;

FIG. 34 is a sectional front view of a MD cartridge loading mechanism ina thirteenth embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a side view of a step plate included in a MD cartridgeloading mechanism in a fourteenth embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 36 is a front view of a cam plate included in a MD cartridgeloading mechanism in a fifteenth embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 37 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a portion of the camplate of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a fragmentary perspective view of a conventional multidiskloading mechanism;

FIG. 39 is a fragmentary perspective view of the conventional multidiskloading mechanism of FIG. 38 in a state where cartridges are movedoutside the multidisk loading mechanism;

FIG. 40 is a plan view of assistance in explaining the multidisk loadingmechanism of FIG. 38;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of a MD cartridge as viewed from the frontside thereof;

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the MD cartridge of FIG. 41 as viewedfrom the back side thereof;

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of a cartridge;

FIG. 44 is a side view of the floating deck of a conventional CDreproducing apparatus;

FIG. 45 is a side view of the floating deck of FIG. 44; and

FIG. 46 is a side view of assistance in explaining the disk transferoperation of the conventional CD reproducing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which likeor corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

First Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1 showing a MD cartridge loading mechanism in a firstembodiment according to the first and the second aspect of the presentinvention, a front panel 31 is provided with a plurality of insertionslots 32 through which cartridges 25 are inserted in the MD cartridgeloading mechanism. A cartridge holder storage unit 34 provided withcartridge holder locking devices 44 is disposed behind the insertionslots 32 and contains cartridge holders 35 for holding cartridges 25inserted therein through the insert slots 32. Eject buttons 41 forejecting the cartridges 25 through the insert slots 32 are arranged onthe front panel 31. In FIG. 1, only part of a case 33 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 2, each cartridge holder 35 has the shape of a thinbox of a metal or a plastic and is provided with a loading hook 36 thatengages a recess 22 formed in the cartridge 25 inserted in the cartridgeholder 35 to retain the cartridge 25 within the cartridge holder 35.

FIG. 3 shows the cartridge 25 being inserted in the cartridge holder 35as viewed from the lower side of the cartridge 25. The loading hook 36is operated for a locking action to lock the cartridge 25 in placewithin the cartridge holder 35 and for an ejecting action to eject thecartridge 25 from the cartridge holder 35 by a linkage. The loading hook36 is supported pivotally on an eject plate 104 which is pushed formovement by the cartridge 25. When the eject plate 104 is pushed fullyback to its loaded position, a locking mechanism, not shown, locks theeject plate 104 at the loaded position. Biased toward the recess 22 by acomparatively weak spring, the loading hook 36 can be disengaged fromthe recess 22 by pushing and pulling the cartridge 25 by hand. When theeject button 41 is pushed to undo the locking mechanism by an ejectlever 107, the cartridge 25 is moved snap toward the front severalcentimeters with the loading hook 36 in engagement with the recess 22.Each cartridge holder 35 is provided with a dust door 37 on its frontend. The dust door 37 is closed by a spring, not shown, while thecartridge holder 25 is empty, and is opened when the cartridge 25 isinserted in the cartridge holder 35. Grip pins 38 project from theopposite side walls of the cartridge holder 35, and carriers 39 grip thegrip pins 38 to convey the cartridge holder 35. The cartridge holder 35is provided with guide strips 42 to guide the cartridge 25 smoothly intothe cartridge holder 35. The cartridge holder 35 is provided with anopening 43 to pass a light beam for reading information from the diskand to facilitate assembling work. The cartridge holders 35 eachcontaining the cartridge 25 are stored in the cartridge holder storageunit 34 and held in standby at a storage position 26, i.e., a standbyposition 27.

Referring to FIG. 1, a deck 60 is a reproducing unit or arecording/reproducing unit for both recording and reproducing operation)for reproducing signals recorded on an MD. The deck 60 comprises acartridge holder locking device 61 for locking the cartridge holder 35containing the cartridge 25 in place, a turntable 62 fastened to theoutput shaft of a motor for rotating a disk 16, and a sensor 63. Thedeck 60 is supported in a floating state on damping supports 64 forisolating the deck 60 from external vibrations. The position of the deck60 corresponds to a reproducing position 28. The damping supports 64 areconnected to both the deck 60 and an elevator 69, only part of which isshown in FIG. 1. The elevator 69 moves vertically to move the deck 60 toa position corresponding to the height of the cartridge holder 35containing the cartridge 25.

A linear cartridge holder transfer device 70 is formed integrally withthe elevator 69. The linear cartridge holder transfer device 70transfers the cartridge holder 35 from the standby position 27 to thereproducing position 28 or in the reverse direction. The carriers 39grip the grip pins 38 of the cartridge holder 35 and a motor, not shown,moves the carriers 39 to transfer the cartridge holder 35. The deck 60and the linear cartridge holder transfer device 70 move verticallytogether with the elevator 69 and are positioned at a heightcorresponding to that of the cartridge holder 35 to be transferred ontothe deck 60.

Referring to FIG. 4, any cartridge 25 is not inserted in the cartridgeholder 35 corresponding to the insertion slot 32a, and a cartridge 25 isinserted in the cartridge holder 35 corresponding to the insertion slot32b with its back end surface 24 substantially flush with the frontsurface of the front panel 31. Therefore, the insertion of the cartridge25 in the cartridge holder 35 can be known with a single glance. Acartridge 25 is being inserted through the insertion slot 32d with afingertip in the corresponding cartridge holder 35. The condition of theinsertion slot 32c will be explained later in connection with thedescription of a second embodiment.

Thus, the cartridges 25 inserted in the cartridge holders 35 and storedin the cartridge holder storage unit 34 can be recognized with a singleglance, and the contents of the MDs of the cartridges 25 inserted in thecorresponding cartridge holders 35 can readily be known from the serialnumbers of the cartridge 35 or the title of the music written on theback end surfaces 24 of the cartridges 25. The eject button 41, theeject lever 107, the eject plate 104 and the loading hook 36 constitutea cartridge holding device for holding the cartridge 25. The linearcartridge holder transfer device 70 is an example of the holder transfermeans.

Second Embodiment

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in a second embodiment according to thethird aspect of the present invention is an improvement of the MDcartridge loading mechanism in the first embodiment of the presentinvention. First the necessity of improving the MD cartridge loadingmechanism in the first embodiment will be described.

In the MD cartridge loading mechanism in the first embodiment, thecartridge 25 contained in the cartridge holder 35 set at the reproducingposition 28 cannot be seen from outside. Therefore, it is impossible toknow the insertion slot through which the cartridge 25 contained in thecartridge holder 35 set at the reproducing 28 position at present wasinserted if there are two or more insertion slots 32 in which any rearend surfaces of the cartridges 25 are not exposed and hence it isimpossible to determine which insertion slots 32 are available. If acartridge 25 is inserted mistakenly in the cartridge holder storage unit34 through the insertion slot 32 through which another cartridge 25 wasinserted previously in the cartridge holder 35 set at the reproducingposition 28 at present, the cartridge holder 35 set at the reproducingposition 28 cannot be returned to its storage position in the cartridgeholder storage unit 34. The second embodiment incorporat improvements tosolve such a problem.

Referring to FIG. 4, a double-insertion inhibiting plate 49 is seen inthe slot 32c while the cartridge holder 35 holding the cartridge 25inserted therein is set at the reproducing position 28. All theinsertion slots 32 are provided with the double-insertion inhibitingplates 49, respectively. Each double-insertion inhibiting plate 49 isoperated by the cartridge holder 35 or a linkage, not shown, driven bythe elevator 69 so as to as to be set at an open position when thecartridge holder 35 is positioned behind the corresponding insertionslot 32 and to be set at an closing position when the cartridge holder35 is transferred to the reproducing position 28. Thus, eachdouble-insertion inhibiting plate 49 identifies the insertion slot 32corresponding to the cartridge holder 35 containing the cartridge 25 andset at the reproducing position 28 at present and inhibits the insertionof a cartridge 25 through the corresponding insertion slot 32 in thecartridge holder storage 7nit 34.

Third Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 5 showing a MD cartridge loading mechanism in a thirdembodiment according to the first and the fourth aspect of the presentinvention, a deck 60 is disposed on one side of a cartridge holderstorage unit 34 as viewed from the front side of a front panel 31, andan orthogonal cartridge holder transfer device 76 is disposed behind thecartridge holder storage unit 34. The MD cartridge loading mechanism inthe third embodiment is provided with cartridge holders 35 shown in FIG.6. The cartridge holder 35 of FIG. 6 is substantially the same inconstruction as the cartridge holder 35 of FIG. 2, except that thepositions of grip pins 38 are different from those of the grip pins 38of the cartridge holder 35 of FIG. 2.

The cartridge holder 35 containing a cartridge 25 is carried in atransverse direction, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to thedirection of insertion of the cartridge 25 in the cartridge holder 35.As shown in FIG. 7, the front panel 31 is provided with a bent portionformed so as not to obstruct the movement of the cartridge holder 35,and insertion slots 32 are extended into the bent portion. Theorthogonal cartridge holder transfer device 76 is an example of thecartridge holder transfer means.

Fourth Embodiment

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in a fourth embodiment according to thefifth aspect of the present invention is realized by incorporating thedouble-insertion inhibiting plates 49 of FIG. 4 into the MD cartridgeloading mechanism of FIG. 5. Hinges, not shown, supporting thedouble-insertion inhibiting plates 49 are disposed outside paths alongwhich the cartridge holders 35 containing the cartridges 25 travel,respectively, so that the hinges will not obstruct the movement of thecartridge holders 35, which is not very difficult.

Fifth Embodiment

A MD cartridge loading mechanism in a fifth embodiment according to thefirst and the sixth aspect of the present invention is shown in FIG. 8,in which some components of the MD cartridge loading mechanism aredislocated from their correct positions to facilitate understanding theconstruction. FIG. 9 shows a turning cartridge holder 75 employed in theMD cartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a top plan viewof the MD cartridge loading mechanism of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, a circular cartridge holder transfer device 74turns the turning cartridge holder 75 from a standby position to areproducing position through an angle of about 90°, and is provided witha carrier 39, which is similar to the carrier 39 shown in FIG. 1. Asshown in FIG. 9, the turning cartridge holder 75 is provided with apivot 73 in one corner thereof, and a grip pin 38 at a positiondiagonally opposite the pivot 73. The back side and one side of acartridge holder storage unit 34 are open so that the turning cartridgeholders 75 can be turned on their pivots 73 out of the cartridge holderstorage unit 34. The back end surface of each of cartridges 25 insertedthrough insertion slots 32 in the turning cartridge holders 75 held at astandby position 27 is exposed in the corresponding insertion slot 32and can be ejected from the MD cartridge loading mechanism by operatingan eject button 41.

Sixth Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 11 showing a MD cartridge loading mechanism in a sixthembodiment according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, theMD cartridge loading mechanism is provided with turning cartridgeholders 75, which is similar to the turning cartridge holders 75 shownin FIG. 8. A circular cartridge holder transfer device 77 turns theturning cartridge holder 75 from a standby position to a reproducingposition through an angle of 45°. A deck 60 is disposed relative to acartridge holder storage unit so that the turning cartridge holder 75 islocated at a reproducing position on the deck 60 when the turningcartridge holder 75 is turned through an angle of 45° from the standbyposition.

A sensor 63 moves along a line inclined at an angle of 45° to ahorizontal line when this MD cartridge loading mechanism is installed ina MD reproducing apparatus in a transverse position as shown in FIG. 12or in a longitudinal position as shown in FIG. 13. Therefore, thefunctional characteristics of the sensor 63 is not affected by theposition of the MD cartridge loading mechanism. A cartridge holdertransfer device 77 shown in FIG. 11 is called an oblique turningcartridge holder transfer means. In FIGS. 12 and 13, indicated at 50 isthe console of the MD reproducing apparatus.

Seventh Embodiment

FIG. 14 shows a cartridge holder 80 employed in a MD cartridge loadingmechanism in a seventh embodiment according to the eighth aspect of thepresent invention, and FIG. 15 shows cartridge holders 80 stacked in acartridge holder storage unit 34. The cartridge holders 80 shown inFIGS. 14 and 15 can be incorporated into the MD cartridge loadingmechanism of a basic construction in the first embodiment. As shown inFIG. 2, each of the cartridge holder 35 employed in the MD loadingmechanism in the first embodiment consists of a top wall, a bottom walland opposite side walls, and formed in the shape of a thin box capableof snugly receiving the cartridge 25. Since each cartridge holder 35 hasthe top wall and the bottom wall, the height of a stack of the cartridgeholders 35 is comparatively large. As shown in FIG. 14, the cartridgeholder 80 has the shape of a U-shaped frame and is provided with grippins 38 and guide lugs 81. In FIG. 14, indicated at 107 is an ejectlever for ejecting the cartridge holder 80, in engagement with a loadinghook 36, not shown in FIG. 14, and at 25 is a cartridge inserted in thecartridge holder 80. The cartridge holder 80 has only strip-shaped framemembers that extend respectively along the side surfaces of thecartridge 25, and is not provided with any top wall and any bottom wall.When the cartridge 25 is inserted in the cartridge holder 80, the guidelugs 81 of the cartridge holder 80 engage grooves 17 (FIG. 41) formed inthe opposite side walls of the cartridge 25 to retain the cartridge 25in the cartridge holder 80.

FIG. 15 shows the plurality of U-shaped cartridge holders 80 shown inFIG. 14 stacked in a cartridge holder storage unit 34. As is obviousfrom FIG. 15, the height H of a space required for storing each U-shapedcartridge holder 80 is small as compared with that of a space requiredfor storing the cartridge holder 35 of FIG. 2, because the cartridgeholder 80 is not provided with any top wall and any bottom wall.Accordingly, height of the cartridge holder storage unit 34 for storingthe cartridge holders 80 is smaller than that of the cartridge holderstorage unit for storing the same number of the cartridge holders 35.

Eighth Embodiment

In each of the first to the seventh embodiment, as shown, for example,in FIG. 4, the cartridge 25 is inserted through the insertion slot 32 inthe cartridge holder and the cartridge 25 is held in the cartridgeholder 35 so that the back end surface is substantially flush with thefront surface of the front panel 31. Therefore, in the final stage ofinsertion of the cartridge 25, the cartridge 25 can not be held withfingers to adjust the direction of insertion and can only be pushed witha fingertip. Consequently, it is possible that the cartridge 25 isinserted obliquely in the cartridge holder 35, the guide strips 42 ofthe cartridge holder 35 is broken by an excessively large force appliedthereto by the cartridge 25, the cartridge holder 35 is dislocated fromits correct position relative to the insertion slot 32, the cartridge 25cannot smoothly inserted in the cartridge holder 35 and/or the cartridge25 is caught by the front panel 31 and cannot be ejected.

Furthermore, if the cartridge 25 is held with fingers when the cartridgeholder 35 holding the cartridge 25 is about to be transferred, it ispossible that the loading hook 36 of the cartridge holder 35 is broken,the carrier 39 of the cartridge holder transfer device 70 is brokenand/or the cartridge holder 35 containing the cartridge 25 cannotcorrectly be transferred to the reproducing position. If the cartridge25 is inserted through the insertion slot 32 in the cartridge holder 35with, for example, a very slender finger beyond a correct holdingposition in the cartridge holder 35, it is possible that portions of thecartridge 25 in contact with the cartridge holder 35 and the cartridgeholder 35 are deformed or broken.

Moreover, when the cartridge 25 is pushed at an indefinite part on theback end thereof to insert the same in the cartridge holder 35, thecartridge 25 is moved at a slant and is caught in the slot 32 or thecartridge 25 cannot correctly be inserted in the cartridge holder.

In brief, in the MD cartridge loading mechanisms in the first to theseventh embodiment, it is not easy to insert the cartridge 25 smoothlyand correctly in the cartridge holder 35. FIGS. 16 to 19 showimprovements in accordance with the eighth to the tenth aspect of thepresent invention for solving those problems in inserting the cartridgethrough the insertion slot in the cartridge holder in the first to theseventh embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 16 showing a MD cartridge loading mechanismconstituted by incorporating the eighth to the tenth aspect of thepresent invention to one of the first to the seventh aspect of thepresent invention, a guide panel 84 is provided with insertion slots 85each having dimensions, i.e., a width, a height and a depth, suitablefor guiding a cartridge 25 in a straight position and is attached to thefront surface of a front panel 31. The suitable depth of each insertionslot is about 15 mm.

FIGS. 17 to 19 show modifications of the guide panel 84 of FIG. 16. Aguide panel 84 of FIG. 17 is provided with a recess 86 at a givenposition in each of transverse slats demarcating the insertion slots 85.A cartridge 25 can be held in the cartridge holder only when thecartridge 25 is inserted in the insertion slot 85 by pushing thecartridge 25 at a portion corresponding to the recess 86 as deep as theback end surface of the cartridge 25 is flush with the bottom surface ofthe recess 86. If the cartridge 25 is inserted in the insertion slot 85as deep as the back end surface is flush with the front surface of theguide panel 84, the cartridge 25 is pushed out automatically from theinsertion slot 85. Thus, the cartridge 25 can correctly be inserted inthe cartridge holder only when the cartridge 25 is pushed at the portioncorresponding to the recess 86.

FIG. 18 shows another improved guide panel 84, in which recesses 86 arearranged at pitches approximately equal to the width of the recess 86.Thus, the back end of the cartridge 25 being inserted in the cartridgeholder cannot be held between fingers and hence some of the aforesaidproblems can be solved. Although the cartridges 25 to be insertedthrough different insertion slots 85 must be pushed at differentportions on their back end surfaces because the different insertionslots 86 are provided with the recesses 86 at different positions,respectively, no problem will arise when the cartridge holders 35respectively corresponding to the insertion slits 85 are constructedaccording to the positions of the recesses 86.

FIG. 19 shows a third improved guide panel 84, in which the frontsurface of the guide panel 84 is declined to the left, as viewed in FIG.19, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the side surfaces ofinsertion slots 85. Therefore, a cartridge 25 can correctly be insertedin the cartridge holder 35 so that the cartridge 25 is caught by theloading hook 36 only when the cartridge 25 is pushed at a portion nearthe left end, as viewed in FIG. 19, of the back end surface thereof.

Ninth Embodiment

FIG. 20 is a side view of a floating deck 60, in which part of acartridge holder transfer device is shown, a cartridge 25 is spacedapart from a turntable 62 and a floating deck 60 is in a free state,FIG. 21 is a side view of the floating deck 60, in which a cartridge 25is located opposite to the turntable 62 and the turntable 62 is in afixed state, FIG. 22(a) is a front view of the floating deck 60 in thestate shown in FIG. 20, FIG. 22(b) is a front view of the floating deck60 in the state shown in FIG. 21, FIG. 23 is a side view of the floatingdeck 60, in which a cartridge 25 is mounted on the turntable 62, andFIG. 24 is a front view of the floating deck 60 in the state shown inFIG. 23.

Referring to FIGS. 20 to 24, locking plates 67a and 67b are providedwith recesses 66, respectively, pins 68 attached to an elevator 69 arefitted in slots 68a formed in the locking plates 67a and 67b to guidethe locking plates 67a and 67b for transverse reciprocation in oppositedirections. The locking plates 67a and 67b are driven for transversereciprocation by a driving mechanism, not shown. Each of dampingsupports 64 has a pin 65 projecting from the floating deck 60, and anelastic member formed of rubber or the like, joined to the extremity ofthe pin 65 and attached to the elevator 69. A plurality of reference pin78, only one of which is shown, projecting upward from the floating deck60 locate a cartridge 25 with respect to horizontal and verticaldirections on a turntable 62.

In a state shown in FIG. 20, the locking plates 67a and 67b have beenmoved to their innermost positions, and the floating deck 60 issupported at a fixed position in a floating state on the elevator 69 bythe damping supports 64 in a state as shown in FIG. 22(a) with the uppersurface of the turntable 62 at a height above the height of the lowersurface of the cartridge 25. If the cartridge 25 is moved horizontallytoward the turntable 62 in this state, the cartridge 25 collides againstthe turntable 62.

To avoid the collision of the cartridge 25 against the turntable 62, thelocking plates 67a and 67b are moved outward, namely, away from eachother, to depress the pins 65 downward with the inclined edges formed atthe left-hand end of the locking plate 67a and at the right-hand end ofthe locking plate 67b, and to bring the recesses 66 into engagement withthe corresponding pins 65, so that the floating deck 60 is lowered andlocked at a lower position as shown in FIG. 21. In this state, thedamping supports 64 are deformed in a shape shown in FIG. 22(b), and agap of a size C (FIG. 21) is formed between a horizontal plane includingthe tips of the reference pins 78 or the surface of the depressedturntable 62, and a horizontal plane including the lower surface of thecartridge 25, so that the cartridge 25 can be positioned at a loadingposition over the turntable 62 without being obstructed by the turntable62. After thus correctly positioning the cartridge 25 at the loadingposition over the turntable 62, the locking plates 67a and 67b are movedto their innermost positions to release the pins 65 from the recesses 66so that the floating deck 60 can be returned to its upper operatingposition by the resilience of the damping supports 64 and suspensionsprings, not shown, and, consequently, the cartridge 25 is locatedcorrectly by the reference pins 78 and is set in place on the turntable62. Thus, the floating deck 60 is supported in a floating state on theelevator 69, and an optical pickup head, not shown, reads informationfrom the disk 16 of the cartridge 25.

Although the pins 65 of the damping supports 64 are used also as thelocking pins in this embodiment, the floating deck 60 may be providedwith pins that serve specially for locking the floating deck 60. Thelocking plates 67a and 67b are floating deck locking means.

This embodiment is not limited in its application to the deck lockingmechanism for locking the floating deck of a disk recording/reproducingapparatus or a MD recording/reproducing apparatus; the embodiment isapplicable also to locking the floating deck of a magnetic diskrecording/reproducing apparatus.

Tenth Embodiment

FIGS. 25 to 32 show a cartridge holder transfer device in a tenthembodiment according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention.FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of an elevator driving mechanismfor driving an elevator 69, included in the cartridge holder transferdevice. Referring to FIG. 25, a frame 59 is fixedly disposed within acase 33, and a pair of cam plates 87 are supported for longitudinalsliding movement (sliding movement to the right and to the left asviewed in FIG. 25) within the frame 59, and interconnected by aconnecting plate 83. Each cam plate 87 is provided with cam slots 89. Arack 88 is attached to the central portion of one end of the connectingplate 83. Two slide pins 72 project from each of the opposite side wallsof the elevator 69 so as to extend through the cam slots 89, andvertical guide slots 30 formed in each of the opposite side walls of ofthe frame 59, respectively. The cam plates 87 provided with the camslots 89, and the connecting plate 83 provided with the rack 88constitute a step plate 99. A pinion 93 is supported for rotation on theframe 59, and a motor 94 mounted on the frame 59 drives the pinion 93 bymeans of a worm or the like. When the step plate 99 and the frame 59 arecombined, the pinion 93 engages the rack 88 fixed to the step plate 99.

Referring to FIG. 26 showing an assembly of the frame 59, the step plate99, the elevator 69 and the slide pins 72, a driving mechanism 92comprises the motor 94 and the pinion 93. The motor 94 drives the pinion93 for rotation to move the step plate 99 longitudinally and,consequently, the elevator 69 having the slide pins 72 extending throughthe vertical slots 30 is moved vertically. Since the rack 88 is disposedwith its pitch line in alignment with the longitudinal center line ofthe connecting plate 83 interconnecting the pair of cam plates 87, thestep plate 99 will not be moved on the skew and will not be jammed whenthe rack 88 is driven in either direction by the pinion 93.

FIGS. 27(a) to 27(d) are views of assistance in explaining the positionof the slide pins 72 of the elevator 69 in the vertical slots 30 inrelation to the movement of the cam plates 87 of the step plate 99. Eachslide pin 72 is at its lowermost position in the corresponding verticalslot 30 at a height H₁₃ from the lower surface of the frame 59 when thecam plates 87 are moved to the left limit position as shown in FIG.27(c). Each slide pin 72 is at a position in the corresponding verticalslot 30 at a height H₁₃ from the lower surface of the frame 59 when thecam plates 87 are moved to the right limit position as shown in FIG.27(d). Each slide pin 72 is at a position between the position shown inFIG. 27(c) and the position shown in FIG. 27(a) when the cam plates 87are positioned at a position between the position shown in FIG. 27(a)and the position shown in FIG. 27(c). Thus, when the step plate 99provided with the cam slots 89 is moved transversely, as viewed in FIGS.27(a) to 27(d), the height of the elevator 69 from the lower surface ofthe frame 59 varies accordingly in a range corresponding to the lengthof the vertical slots 30. The frame 59, the driving mechanism 92 and thestep plate 99 constitute an elevator driving mechanism for verticallymoving the elevator 69.

Eleventh Embodiment

There is the possibility that the pair of cam plates 87 of the stepplate 99 of the elevator driving mechanism shown in FIG. 26 tilt towardeach other and interfere with the elevator 69 when the elevator 69 israised. FIGS. 28 to 31 show means for preventing such a trouble by wayof example.

FIG. 28 is a top plan view of a step plate 99 employed in the eleventhembodiment, FIG. 29 is a front view of the step plate 99 of FIG. 28,FIG. 30 is a side view of the step plate of FIG. 28, and FIG. 31 is aside view of an assembly of the step plate 99 shown in FIGS. 28 to 30,and a frame 59.

Referring to FIGS. 28 to 31, guide pins 90 each having an expanded headare attached to the outer surfaces of a pair of cam plates 87, and arefitted in guide slots formed in guide slots 97 formed in the frame 59(FIG. 31). Since the diameter of the heads of the guide pins 90 aregreater than the width of the guide slots 97, the cam plates 87 areunable to separate from the frame 59 and to tilt toward each other.

FIG. 32 shows the positional relation between a cartridge 25 insertedthrough the insertion slot 32, not shown, in the cartridge holder andmounted on the turntable 62, and the top wall of the case 33 when theelevator 69 is raised to its uppermost position (FIG. 27(a)). When thereproducing operation is executed in the state shown in FIG. 32, thefloating deck 60 vibrates within a range dependent on the dampingcharacteristics of the damping supports 64. Therefore, a space of a sizeE greater than the range of vibration of the floating deck 60 must besecured between the upper surface of the cartridge 25 and the top wallof the case 33. Accordingly, the center plane of the insertion slot mustbe at a distance F from the top wall of the case 33, which makes itdifficult to form the apparatus in a comparatively small size.

When the cam plates 87 of the step plate 99 are moved further to theright, as viewed in FIG. 27(d), beyond the position shown in FIG. 27(a),the position of the slide pins 72 is lower than that of the same in thestate shown in FIG. 27(a); that is, the elevator 69 moves downward whenthe cam plates 87 of the step plate 99 are moved to the right from theposition shown in FIG. 27(a) to the position shown in FIG. 27(d), whilethe elevator 69 moves upward when the cam plates 87 of the step plate 99are moved to the right from the position shown in FIG. 27(c) via aposition shown in FIG. 27(b) to the position shown in FIG. 27(a). Thecam plates 87 are positioned as shown in FIG. 27(a) when the cartridge25 is mounted on the turntable 62, and then the cam plates 87 arepositioned as shown in FIG. 27(d) to lower the elevator 69 forreproducing operation. When the elevator 69 is thus lowered after thecartridge 25 has been mounted on the turntable 62, a space having asufficiently large thickness can be secured and, therefore, the size Eof the space shown in FIG. 32 may be as large as the cartridge 25 can bemoved and the uppermost insertion slot can be formed very near to thetop wall of the case 33.

Twelfth Embodiment

FIGS. 33(a) to 33(d) shows the positional relation between the elevatorand the elevator driving mechanism. In FIG. 33(a), the elevator 69 shownin FIG. 25 is at its lowermost position.

The fourteenth aspect of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 25 and 33(a) to 33(d). FIGS. 33(a) to 33(d) aresectional side views of the elevator driving mechanism shown in FIG. 25,taken on the center line of the elevator driving mechanism shown in FIG.25. Referring to FIGS. 33(a) to 33(d) showing the position of theelevator 69 corresponding to the position of the rack 88 relative to theposition of the driving mechanism 92, the driving mechanism 92 isdisposed outside the path of vertical movement of the elevator 69.Therefore, the thickness of the apparatus is dependent only on the rangeof vertical movement of the elevator 69 and is not dependent at all onthe height of the driving mechanism 92. Although the rack 88 enters thepath of the vertical movement of the elevator 69 partly, the rack 88 andthe elevator 69 do not interfere with each other because the rack 88enters the path of the vertical movement of the elevator 69 after theelevator 69 has been raised to leave a space large enough to receive therack 88 therein under the elevator 69.

Thirteenth Embodiment

FIG. 34 is a sectional front view of an elevator driving mechanism in athirteenth embodiment according to the fifteenth aspect of the presentinvention, employing the step plate 99 shown in FIG. 28. As shown inFIG. 34, low-friction or damping pads 79, such as felt pads, nonwovenfabric pads, polytetrafluoroethylene pads or rubber pads, are attachedto the outer surfaces of the walls of the step plate 99, the innersurfaces of the walls of the frame 59 facing the step plate 99 or theouter surfaces of the walls of the elevator 69 facing the step plate 99to suppress the vibration of the step plate 99 and the elevator 69 inresonance with external vibrations, so that vibrational noise will notbe generated.

Fourteenth Embodiment

FIG. 35 shows an elevator driving mechanism in a fourteenth embodimentaccording to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention.

Since the cam slots of the step plate 99 are inclined or since thehorizontal portions of the inclined cam slots having the horizontalportions to move the elevator 69 stepwise cannot have a long length, itis difficult to locate the elevator 69 correctly at the specifiedpositions. Although the arrival of the elevator 69 at a positioncorresponding to the horizontal portions of the inclined cam slots isdetected by a switch, not shown, it often occurs that the elevator 69 iscaused to overshoot by the inertia of the driving mechanism 92 andcannot be stopped at the desired position. The embodiment shown in FIG.35 is intended to solve such problems.

Referring to FIG. 35, a plate spring 98 having a bent free end 95 isfixed to the upper end of a frame 59, and a plurality of recesses 96 areformed in the upper edges of the cam plate of a step plate 99. Therecesses 96 correspond to levels at which the elevator 69 is to bestopped, respectively. When the elevator 69 reaches a desired positionthe bent free end 95 of the plate spring 98 drops into the correspondingrecess 96 with a click to make it difficult for the step plate 99 tomove from the position corresponding to the desired position of theelevator 69.

Fifteenth Embodiment

FIGS. 36 and 37 show a fifteenth embodiment according to the eighteenthaspect of the present invention intended to stop the step plate 99 at adesired position in an improved accuracy.

Referring to FIGS. 36 and 37, each cam slot 89 has a protrusion 91 onthe lower edge thereof between the upper end of each of inclinedportions and a horizontal portion 101 in which the slide pin 72 stayswhen the step plate reaches a position corresponding to a desired heightof the elevator 69. The short horizontal portion 101 on the oppositesides of the stopping position where the slide pin 72 is to be stoppedand hence the height of the elevator 69 will not change even if the stepplate 99 moves slightly in either direction after the slide pin 72 hasreached the horizontal portion 101. Since the opposite ends of the loweredge of the horizontal portion 101 are inclined upward, the slide pin 72can stably held in the horizontal portion 101.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the present invention hasthe following advantages.

The MD cartridge loading mechanism in the first to the seventh aspect ofthe present invention enables visual recognition of the positions of theMDs stored in the MD storage unit, enables reading titles and contentsindicated on the back end surfaces of the MDs stored in the MD storageunit other than the MD loaded on the MD reproducing apparatus, enablesthe MDs to be taken out and changed while one of the MDs stored in theMD storage unit is loaded on the MD reproducing apparatus and the MDreproducing apparatus is in operation, does not need a MD transferdevice of a very strong construction because only a single MD istransferred from the MD storage unit to the MD reproducing apparatus ata time, and can be formed in a comparatively small lightweightconstruction. Furthermore, since the cartridge holder is supported onits opposite sides during transfer, the cartridge holder will not tiltduring transfer and the cartridge holder may be of a thin construction.

The MD loading mechanism in the sixth aspect of the present inventioncan be installed in either a longitudinal position or a transverseposition because the sensor moves along a path inclined at an angle of45° to a horizontal line.

Since each of the cartridge holders in the eighth aspect of the presentinvention has the shape of a U-shaped frame and is not provided withneither a top wall or a bottom wall, the height of a stack of thecartridge holders is small as compared with that of a stack of the samenumber of conventional cartridge holders having the shape of a case.

The MD loading mechanism in the ninth and the tenth aspect of thepresent invention has an advantage of facilitating the insertion ofcartridges in the cartridge holders in addition to those of the first tothe sixth aspect of the present invention.

Since the floating deck of the cartridge holder transfer device in thetwelfth aspect of the present invention is retracted from its operatingposition to a loading position so as to form a space between the uppersurface of the turntable and the cartridge being transferred to aposition directly above the turntable and is locked at the loadingposition while the cartridge is being moved to the position directlyabove the turntable, the cartridge need not be transferred in a raisedplane extending above a plane including the upper surface of theturntable when the floating deck is located at the operating position,so that the cartridge holder transfer device can be formed in a reducedsize.

Since the cartridge holder transfer device in the thirteenth aspect ofthe present invention is provided with the elevator releasing means thatmoves the floating deck further inward and releases the locked floatingdeck after the top cartridge at the top of the stack of cartridges hasbeen transferred to and mounted on the turntable, any marginal spaceneed not be formed over the top cartridge, so that the cartridge holdertransfer device can be formed in a comparatively small size.

Since the elevator driving mechanism of the cartridge holder transferdevice in the fourteenth aspect of the present invention is disposedoutside the path of the elevator that moves vertically, the height ofthe cartridge holder transfer device is dependent only on the range ofvertical movement of the elevator, so that the cartridge holder transferdevice can be formed in a comparatively small size.

Since the cartridge holder transfer device in the fifteenth aspect ofthe present invention is provided with the low-friction or damping padsattached to part or entire area of the surfaces of the walls of the stepplate facing the frame or the elevator, the step plate and the elevatorare able to move smoothly without generating vibrational noise.

Since the step plate of the cartridge transfer device in the sixteenthaspect of the present invention is provided with the recesses, and theprojection or the spring plate fixed to the frame engages each of therecess to stop the step plate correctly at a position corresponding tothe recess, so that the step plate can be stopped at the desiredposition corresponding to the recess engaging the projection or thespring plate in an improved accuracy.

The step plate of the cartridge holder transfer device in theseventeenth aspect of the present invention is provided, as the elevatorreleasing means in the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, withthe step plate provided with cam slots each having portions having atriangular cam surface to move the elevator slightly downward in raisingthe elevator, and can be formed in a simple construction and in acomparatively small size.

Each of the cam slots of the step plate in the eighteenth aspect of thepresent invention has horizontal portions respectively corresponding tothe desired levels of the elevator and the opposite ends of eachhorizontal portion are inclined upward, so that the slide pin of theelevator can be retained in the horizontal portion regardless of theslight movement of the step plate and hence the elevator can be stoppedon the desired level in an improved accuracy.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedusing specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposesonly, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention defined bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A MD loading mechanism for storing a plurality ofMD cartridges and loading one of said plurality of cartridges in a MDreproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on the MDs ofthe MD cartridges, said MD loading mechanism comprising:a plurality ofcartridge holders for holding MD cartridges therein, respectively, saidplurality of cartridge holders each provided with at least one grip pinwhich is gripped when transferring the cartridge holder, each cartridgeholder including,an eject plate movable between a locking position, inwhich the MD cartridge is fully received in said cartridge holder, andan ejecting position, in which the MD cartridge is at least partiallyejected from said cartridge holder, an eject lever unlocking said ejectplate from said locking position to move said eject plate from saidlocking position to said ejecting position such that the MD cartridgecan be removed from said cartridge holder by a user, and a loading hookpivotally supported by said eject plate, said loading hook engaging withthe MD cartridge to lock the MD cartridge with respect to said ejectplate when said eject plate is in said locking position and maintainingengagement even after said eject plate is moved to said eject positionby an operation of said eject lever; a MD cartridge storage unit forstoring the plurality of cartridge holders therein in a stack so thatback end surfaces of the MD cartridges held within the cartridge holderscan be seen from outside, said MD cartridge storage unit provided with aplurality of insertion slots through which the MD cartridges areinserted in the cartridge holders held behind the insertion slots withinthe MD cartridge storage unit and cartridge holder locking means forlocking the cartridge holders in place within the MD cartridge storageunit; a cartridge holder transfer means for transferring the cartridgeholder holding said one of said plurality of cartridges in a planesubstantially parallel to the surface of the MD cartridge held in thecartridge holder in the MD cartridge storage unit from the MD cartridgestorage unit to the MD reproducing apparatus by gripping said at leastone grip pin of the cartridge holder; and an elevator means for movingvertically said MD reproducing apparatus and said cartridge holdertransfer means so that said MD reproducing apparatus and said cartridgeholder transfer means are positioned at heights corresponding to aheight of the holder holding said one of said plurality of cartridges.2. A MD loading mechanism of claim 1, wherein said cartridge holderfurther includes,a locking mechanism locking said eject plate in saidlocking position when said MD cartridge is being fully inserted in saidcartridge holder.
 3. A MD loading mechanism for storing a plurality ofMD cartridges and loading one of said plurality of cartridges in a MDreproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on the MDs ofthe MD cartridges, said MD loading mechanism comprising:a plurality ofcartridge holders for holding MD cartridges therein, respectively, saidplurality of cartridge holders each provided on the opposite sidesthereof with at least one grip pin which is gripped when transferringthe cartridge holder, each cartridge holder including,an eject platemovable between a locking position, in which the MD cartridge is fullyreceived in said cartridge holder, and an ejecting position, in whichthe MD cartridge is at least partially ejected from said cartridgeholder, an eject lever unlocking said eject plate from said lockingposition to move said eject plate from said locking position to saidejecting position such that the MD cartridge can be removed from saidcartridge holder by a user, and a loading hook pivotally supported bysaid eject plate, said loading hook engaging with the MD cartridge tolock the MD cartridge with respect to said eject plate when said ejectplate is in said locking position and maintaining engagement even aftersaid eject plate is moved to said eject position by an operation of saideject lever; a MD cartridge storage unit for storing the plurality ofcartridge holders therein in a stack so that back end surfaces of the MDcartridges held within the cartridge holders can be seen from outside,said MD cartridge storage unit provided with a plurality of insertionslots through which the MD cartridges are inserted in the cartridgeholders held behind the insertion slots within the MD cartridge storageunit and cartridge holder locking means for locking the cartridgeholders within the MD cartridge storage unit; a linear cartridge holdertransfer means for transferring the cartridge holder holding said one ofsaid plurality of cartridges in a plane substantially parallel to thesurface of the MD cartridge held in the cartridge holder in the MDcartridge storage unit from the MD cartridge storage unit to the MDreproducing apparatus along a direction parallel to a direction in whichthe MD cartridges are inserted through the insertion slots in thecartridge holders, respectively, by gripping said at least one grip pinof the cartridge holder; and an elevator means for moving verticallysaid MD reproducing apparatus and said linear cartridge holder transfermeans so that said MD reproducing apparatus and said linear cartridgeholder transfer means are positioned at heights corresponding to aheight of the holder holding said one of said plurality of cartridges.4. A MD loading mechanism for storing a plurality of MD cartridges andloading one of said plurality of cartridges in a MD reproducingapparatus for reproducing information recorded on the MDs of the MDcartridges, said MD loading mechanism comprising:a plurality ofcartridge holders for holding MD cartridges therein, respectively, saidplurality of cartridge holders each provided on the opposite sidesthereof with at least one grip pin which is gripped when transferringthe cartridge holder, each cartridge holder including,an eject platemovable between a locking position, in which the MD cartridge is fullyreceived in said cartridge holder, and an ejecting position, in whichthe MD cartridge is at least partially ejected from said cartridgeholder, an eject lever unlocking said eject plate from said lockingposition to move said eject plate from said locking position to saidejecting position such that the MD cartridge can be removed from saidcartridge holder by a user, and a loading hook pivotally supported bysaid eject plate, said loading hook engaging with the MD cartridge tolock the MD cartridge with respect to said eject plate when said ejectplate is in said locking position and maintaining engagement even aftersaid eject plate is moved to said eject position by an operation of saideject lever; a MD cartridge storage unit for storing the plurality ofcartridge holders therein in a stack so that back end surfaces of the MDcartridges held within the cartridge holders can be seen from outside,said MD cartridge storage unit provided with a plurality of insertionslots through which the MD cartridges are inserted in the cartridgeholders held behind the insertion slots within the MD cartridge storageunit and cartridge holder locking means for locking the cartridgeholders within the MD cartridge storage unit; an orthogonal cartridgeholder transfer means for transferring the cartridge holder holding saidone of said plurality of cartridges in a plane substantially parallel tothe surface of the MD cartridge held in the cartridge holder in the MDcartridge storage unit from the MD cartridge storage unit to the MDreproducing apparatus along a direction perpendicular to a direction inwhich the MD cartridges are inserted through the insertion slots in thecartridge holders, respectively, by gripping said at least one grip pinof the cartridge holder; and an elevator means for moving verticallysaid MD reproducing apparatus and said orthogonal cartridge holdertransfer means so that said MD reproducing apparatus and said orthogonalcartridge holder transfer means are positioned at heights correspondingto a height of the holder holding said one of said plurality ofcartridges.
 5. A MD loading mechanism for storing a plurality of MDcartridges and loading one of said plurality of cartridges in a MDreproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on the MDs ofthe MD cartridges, said MD loading mechanism comprising;a plurality ofcartridge holders for holding MD cartridges therein, respectively, saidplurality of cartridge holders each provided in one corner thereof witha pivot and in another corner thereof with a grip pin which is grippedwhen transferring the cartridge holder, each cartridge holderincluding,an eject plate movable between a locking position, in whichthe MD cartridge is fully received in said cartridge holder, and anejecting position, in which the MD cartridge is at least partiallyejected from said cartridge holder, an eject lever unlocking said ejectplate from said locking position to move said eject plate from saidlocking position to said ejecting position such that the MD cartridgecan be removed from said cartridge holder by a user, and a loading hookpivotally supported by said eject plate, said loading hook engaging withthe MD cartridge to lock the MD cartridge with respect to said ejectplate when said eject plate is in said locking position and maintainingengagement even after said eject plate is moved to said eject positionby an operation of said eject lever; a MD cartridge storage unit forstoring the plurality of cartridge holders therein in a stack so thatback end surfaces of the MD cartridges held within the cartridge holderscan be seen from outside and so that the cartridge holders can be turnedon their pivots, said MD cartridge storage unit provided with aplurality of insertion slots through which the MD cartridges areinserted in the cartridge holders held behind the insertion slots withinthe MD cartridge storage unit and cartridge holder locking means forlocking the cartridge holders within the MD cartridge storage unit; acircular cartridge holder transfer means for transferring the cartridgeholder holding said one of said plurality of cartridges in a planesubstantially parallel to the surface of the MD cartridge held in thecartridge holder in the MD cartridge storage unit from the MD cartridgestorage unit to the MD reproducing apparatus by gripping the grip pin ofthe cartridge holder and turning the cartridge holder on its pivot; andan elevator means for moving vertically said MD reproducing apparatusand said circular cartridge holder transfer means so that said MDreproducing apparatus and said circular cartridge holder transfer meansare positioned at heights corresponding to a height of the holderholding said one of said plurality of cartridges.
 6. A MD loadingmechanism for storing a plurality of MD cartridges and loading one ofsaid plurality of cartridges in a MD reproducing apparatus forreproducing information recorded on the MDs of the MD cartridges, saidMD loading mechanism comprising:a plurality of cartridge holders forholding MD cartridges therein, respectively, said plurality of cartridgeholders each provided in one corner thereof with a pivot and in anothercorner with a grip pin which is gripped when transferring the cartridgeholder, each cartridge holder including,an eject plate movable between alocking position, in which the MD cartridge is fully received in saidcartridge holder, and an ejecting position, in which the MD cartridge isat least partially ejected from said cartridge holder, an eject leverunlocking said eject plate from said locking position to move said ejectplate from said locking position to said ejecting position such that theMD cartridge can be removed from said cartridge holder by a user, and aloading hook pivotally supported by said eject plate, said loading hookengaging with the MD cartridge to lock the MD cartridge with respect tosaid eject plate when said eject plate is in said locking position andmaintaining engagement even after said eject plate is moved to saideject position by an operation of said eject lever; a MD cartridgestorage unit for storing the plurality of cartridge holders therein in astack so that back end surfaces of the MD cartridges held within thecartridge holders can be seen from outside and so that the cartridgeholders can be turned on their pivots, said MD cartridge storage unitprovided with a plurality of insertion slots through which the MDcartridges are inserted in the cartridge holders held behind theinsertion slots within the MD cartridge storage unit and cartridgeholder locking means for locking the cartridge holders within the MDcartridge storage unit; an oblique circular cartridge holder transfermeans for transferring the cartridge holder holding said one of saidplurality of cartridges in a plane substantially parallel to the surfaceof the MD cartridge held in the cartridge holder in the MD cartridgestorage unit from MD cartridge storage unit to the MD reproducingapparatus by gripping the grip pin of the cartridge holder and turningthe cartridge holder on its pivot through an angle of 45°, 135°, 225° or315° from a storage position to a reproducing position; and an elevatormeans for moving vertically said MD reproducing apparatus and saidcircular cartridge holder transfer means so that said MD reproducingapparatus and said circular cartridge holder transfer means arepositioned at a height corresponding to that of the holder holding saidone of said plurality of cartridges.
 7. A MD loading mechanism accordingto any one of claims 1, 2, 4, and 6, wherein each of the cartridgeholders is a U-shaped frame provided at least at two positions on theinner side thereof with lugs that engage grooves formed in the MDcartridge to hold the MD cartridge without using any top wall and anybottom wall so that the cartridge holders can be stacked in a heightsmaller than that in which the same number of cartridge holders havingthe shape of a case are stacked.
 8. A MD loading mechanism according toany one of claims 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7, further comprising a guide panelprovided with insertion slots demarcated by slats and having dimensionscapable of guiding the MD cartridge in a correct position and in acorrect direction, and connected to the MD cartridge storage unit withthe insertion slots in alignment with those of the MD cartridge storageunit, respectively, so that the back end surfaces of the MD cartridgesinserted in the cartridge holders can be seen from outside.
 9. A MDloading mechanism according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7,further comprising a guide panel provided with insertion slotsdemarcated by slats provided with recesses, respectively, and havingdimensions capable of guiding the MD cartridges in a correct positionand in a correct direction, and connected to the MD cartridge storageunit with the insertion slots in alignment with those of the MDcartridge storage unit, respectively, so that the back end surfaces ofthe MD cartridges inserted in the cartridge holders can be seen fromoutside and flush with the bottom surfaces of the recesses of the slats.10. A MD cartridge loading mechanism according to any one of claims 1,2, 4, 6 and 7, wherein each of the cartridge holders is a box-shapedcase having a MD cartridge inlet, capable of storing a MD cartridgetherein so that the back end surface of the MD cartridge is exposed, andhaving a plate covering the side surfaces and part of the surface of theMD cartridge so that the MD cartridge is held in a specified position,at least one loading hook supported on the plate so as to engage arecess formed in the MD cartridge to hold the MD cartridge in place, anejecting plate for ejecting the MD cartridge from the cartridge holder,an eject lever for operating the eject plate, and a door for coveringthe MD cartridge inlet.